Acoustic apparatus



Dec. 1924- 1,521,287

H. GERNSBACK ACOUSTI C APPARATUS Fileci May 19, 1923 INVENTOR Hugo Gqmsback.

A TORNEY Patented Dec. 30, 1924.,

PATENT oFFicE.

HUGO GEBNSBACK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AGOUSTIC APPARATUS.

Application tiled May 19, 1923. Serial 1T0. 6401241 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Huoo Gunnsnaon, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of New York city, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acoustic Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to acoustical instruments and the important objects of the invention are to provide simple and practical means by which hearing may be effected by sound vibrations transmitted directly to the osseous tissue of the body. A particular urpose is to provide such means in the (Jim of a small, compact and handy instrument whichcan be easily carried about and used without attracting undue attention.

In the accomplishment of the foregoing l have constructed an instrument having relatively small. bit pieces adapted to be ipped between the teeth and which are irectly carried by the polar projections of a small electromagnet connected with a microphone or other suitable sound sensitive mechanism.

@ther features otthe invention will appear as the specificationproceeds In the drawing accompanying and tonningpart of this specification the invention is illustrated embodied in some of its simtill plest forms but it is to be understood that the structure may be further modified without departure from the broad spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter de- L fined and claimed.

Figure l in the drawing referred to is a side view of the instrument, indicated as in ordinary use with a suitable electric circult Figure 2 is a front or face view out the device on a slightly enlarged scale,

Figure 3 is a side view of the same with the case shown in section,

Figure 4 is a broken sectional view illus= trative of a slightly modified form,

The vibration transmitting or osseous engaging members are shown in the form of separated bit pieces 5, which may be tapered and grooved as shown to enter readily between the lips and fit against the upper and lower teeth of the user.

These bit pieces may be constructed of hard rubber, fiber or other good vibration transmitting material and are preferably made as small as possible so as to be inconspicuous and not uncomfortable in use,

The bit pieces are shown as attached to and directly carried by the polar projections 7 and 8 of an electromagnet structure which comprises a back or bar carrying at its ends the magnet windings 9, 10. The polar projections are made heavy enough to carry a considerable magnetic flux and are closely approached so as to leave a rather small magnetic gap 11 between the ends of the same, as it is the varying force or' the magnetism across this gap which produces the vibratory efi'ects transmitted to the bit structure. Usually the approached ends of the pole pieces are faced ofi' squarely and stand in parallel relation so as to present the maximum areas to each other. llhe bit elements may be secured to the pole pieces in any satisfactory manner, for instance, by means oi screws, such as indicated at 12,

To obtain the maximum eflects the back of the magnet structure may be flexible as by making it of laminations of iron or steel strips as at 13 in Figure 3, or by making it in two or more parts as at it, 15 in Figure 4, articulated by a pivot joint 16. In the latter construction a spring is indicated at 17 for holding the parts together in their pivotal relation.

To prevent the pole pieces from ever actually engaging and also provide a certain cushioning efi'ect, a stop cushion 18 of rubber or the like may be interposed between the tips of the poles.

The magnet structure may be enclosed in an ornamental or other suitable case such as the hollow shell 190i non-magnetic ma-= terial closed over at the trout by a cap or cover 20 secured in place by the screws 21. With this construction the cap is slotted as at 22 for the free passage of the pole pieces and a handle socket 23 is shown attached to the back of the case. As shown in Figure 4i the handle socket may open to till the back and the adjacent wall of the easing so as to exert a pressure whichwill hold the articulated parts together and rock the movable pole piece 8 toward the relatively fixed pole piece 7. i

A conventional circuit is illustrated in Figure 1 as embodying a microphone 26 and a source of energy 27 in series with the coils of the electromagnet and from the foregoing it will be understood that with this arrangement the pole pieces will be vi brated in accordance with the variations in current strength, producing at the bit pieces vibrations corresponding in effect to the original sound vibrations at the microphone or other source.

What I claim is:

1. In. acoustical apparatus, an electromagnet having vibratile pole pieces and separated osseous vibration transmittmg members actuated thereby. 4

' 2. In' acoustical apparatus, an electromagnet having pole tips provided with bit pieces for gripping engagement between the teeth.

3. In acoustical ap aratus, an electro magnet having close y approached pole pieces and osseous vibrating members carried by said pole pieces and standing in opposed separated relation. I

4. An acoustical instrument comprising an electromagnet having closely approached pole pieces provided with projecting bit elements and means for maintaining separation of the pole pieces without preventing relative movement thereof.

- 5. An acoustical instrument comprising an electromagnet of multi-polar construction having movably related pole \pieces each carr mg an independently vibrating osseous vi ratin element. I

6. An acoustical instrument comprising an electromagnet of multi-polar construction having movably related pole pieces carrying osseous vibrating elements and resilient means for maintainin a predetermined normal spacing of the po e pieces.

7. An acoustical instrument comprisin an electromagnet having a flexible bac with polar windings at the ends of the same having pole pieces and an osseous vibration transmitter actuated by said pole pieces.

8. An acoustical instrument comprising an electromagnet having a flexible back carrying Hole pieces, osseous vibrating elements on sai pole pieces and means for su porting the back to permit flexure thereof 9. An acoustical instrument comprising an electromagnet having a flexible back carrying pole pieces, osseous vibrating elements on said pole pieces, means for supporting the back to permit flexure thereof and a resilient cushion between the pole pieces.

10. An acoustical instrument comprising a case, an electromagnet having a flexible back and supported in the case to emit flexure of the same, pole pieces on sai back and osseous vibrating elements carried by said pole pieces. 11. An acoustical instrument, comprisi electromagnetically vibrated, Se arated bit pieces for gripping engagement tween the teeth and vibrating independently to thereby transmit vibrations independently to the teeth of both the upper and the lower jaw.

12. An acoustical instrument, comprisi electromognetically vibrated, se arated blt pieces for gripping engagement tween the teeth and vibrating independently to thereby transmit vibrations inde endently to the teeth of both the upper an the lower 'aw and resilient means for holding said its mechanicall separated while gripped in the bite of t e teeth.

' In witness whereof, I have hereunto set 

